Skiing apparatus



Dec. 17, 1963 R. R. THOMPSON SKIING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1962 INVENTOR. fosaerfif a/vpsan 3,114,158 SKIING APPARATUS Robert R. Thompson, 423 S. Coinstock, Whittier, Calif. Filed Mar. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 180,166 12 Claims. (Cl. 9-347) This invention relates to skiing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for assisting a water skier initially.

Water skiing is becoming more and more popular as a healthy and enjoyable sport. One of the most difficult parts of the sport is for the skier to control himself and the skis during the first stage while the boat is accelerating up to skiing speed. During this initial stage, the skis will not support the person and it is very difficult for him to maintain his balance.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus which is particularly useful in the sport of water skiing.

A further object or" this invention is to provide inexpensive apparatus -for assisting the person in learning how to water ski.

Another object of this invention is to provide easily used apparatus for supporting at least most of the weight of a water skier during the initial 20 to 40 feet while the ski boat accelerates the skier up to cruising speed.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide apparatus which may be mounted on a pier and used by many different individual water skiers to assist them in the initial stage of the skiing operation.

Other and further objects of this invention will be come apparent in the detailed description below in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an overall pictorial view demonstrating the method of use of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partially cut-away view of the apparatus taken along line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2 and disclosing the details of means for retracting the skier-supporting float;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partially cut-away view disclosing details of the bearing means of the telescoping Sections which are used to stabilize the skier-supporting float;

FEGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of the lower portion of the skier-supporting float as seen from the front; and,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged top view of the skier seat.

Briefly, the invention preferably includes the relatively small streamlined float having a seat thereon upon which the skier sits. T e float is of sufficient size that it will support at least the major portion of the weight of the skier and preferably substantially all of the weight of the skier. The seat is elevated above the water a distance so that the skier may sit thereon in a semi-crouched position with his skis just slightly below the surface of the vater. Additionally, the seat is shaped so that the skier may grasp the seat between his legs and thereby pull the float with him as he is towed by the ski boat.

In use, the sk'er mounts the float when it is adjacent a pier or a relatively large anchored float. l-ie grasps the seat between his legs and with his hands a tow bar connected to a ski boat through a tow rope. Then the skier supporting float is pulled by the skier as he is towed for the first 20 to 40 feet of his travel while he is being ac celerated by the ski boat. Therefore, means are provided connecting the skier-supporting float with the pier for drawing the said supporting float back to the pier after the skier has left. Additionally, because of the size and shape of the skier supporting float it is relatively unstable. Therefore, means are provided con- United States Patent 0 3,ll l,l58 Patented Dec. 17, 1963 necting the said supporting float with the pier to stabilize the float.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed therein will be described with more particularity. in FIGURE 1 a skier S is disclosed with a pair of skis '7 on his feet and grasping tow bar 3 which is connected to a ski boat (not shown). The skier S is sitting on a skier-supporting float it) which is connected to a pier ill by stabilizing means, preferably in the form of a boom comprising a plurality of telescoping sections referred to generally by the arrow 12.

The float it? comprises an elongated main portion 14 with a pair of oflset pontoon portions 15 at the rear end thereof. The forward ends of the portions 14 and 15 are curved forwardly and upwardly in order to decrease water resistance.

Secured on the top of frame 16 is a seat 17 upon which the skier sits. As disclosed in more detail in FiGURE 6, the seat 17 is generally elongated and has a reduced portion 13 midway thereof with an enlarged forward end 19 with a generally wide flat portion 2% at its rear end. With this arrangement the skier S can grip the seat 17 between his legs with most of his weight resting on the portion 20 and the enlarged end 19 assists him in pulling the float it) with him.

On the lower side of the main portion lid of float 1d there is provided a pair of depending brackets 21 which anchor a lateral foot bar 22. As can be seen best in FEGURE 2, the foot bar 22 has a tear drop cross-section to reduce drag. Also as best seen in this figure, the bar 22 which extends laterally to either side of main portion 14 of the float lit is positioned almost directly below the forward end of the seat 137.

The function of the foot bar 22 is as follows. As mentioned previously, the skier S mounts the float llli when it is adjacent the pier ill. During the mounting operation and while the skier is seated on seat 17 the foot bar 22 assists him in maintaining his balance on the float it).

In the preferred embodiment the boom d2 comprises five telescoping sections, each of which is approximately 7 or 8 feet long, to wit, rear section 24, intermediate sections 25, 2d and 27, and front section 2'5 which is secured at its forward end into socket 29 on the float lit The manner in which the rear end of rear section 24 is connected to the pier 11 will be described in more detail below.

It will be noted that in the preferred embodiment the telescoping sections each have a square cross-section. This is to prevent the sections from rotating relative to each other. Round telescoping sections with keyways could be used and accomplish the purpose desired. With such telescoping sections the float lid is prevented from tipping over sideways or from turning over in the fore and aft direction. Round telescoping sections without keyways will stabilize the float in, but not as well as the above mentioned telescoping sections.

The telescoping sections must move freely relative to each other in order to accomplish their intend-ed purpose. To this end bearing means are provided on the telescoping sections. Referring now in particular to FIGURE 4, the bearing means at the forward end of section 25 and at the rear end of section 26 are illustrated in detail. On the rear end of section 26- is located a bronze bearing 31 shrunk fit on the section 26 abutting annular shoulde-rSZ. This bearing 31 rides against interior surface 33 of the section 25 as the section 26 telescopes into the section 25.

At the forward end of section 25 is located an annular flange 34- which extends radially outwardly from the wall of the section 25 as well as radially inwardly. Attached to the flange 34 is bearing means in the form of a bronze beaming 35 which rides against exterior surface 36 of the section as during the telescoping operation. A rubber cushion 37 is located between the bearing 31 and the flange '34 in order to absorb the shock as the section 26 reaches its fully extended position.

The bearing means at the rear ends of telescoping sections .25, 27 and 28, as well as the bearing means at the forward ends of sections 26 and 27, are the same as those disclosed in FIGURE 4 and therefore will not be illustrated or described in detail.

The bearing means at the forward end of the section 2 is slightly different from the corresponding bearing means at the forward ends of the sections 25, 26 and 27. More specifically the flange equivalent to flange 34 on section 25, extends only radially inward from the wall of the section. T his is because the outward portion of the flange 4 functions to engage the forward end of the next rearward section 24 when the section '25 has been fully withdrawn therein to limit the telescoping action between that pair of sections. The same is true as to each other respective pair of sections. However, since the section 24 does not telescope into any section there is no need of such outward portion.

Because of the manner in which the bearing means at the ends of the sections cooperate with each other, the sections can resist lateral (with respect to the axis of the boom 12) loads which tend to bend the boom. This assists the skier in maintaining his upright position by preventing the float 10 from tipping forward, or rearward. Further, the bearing means cooperate to prevent the sec tions from rotating relative to each other about the axis of the boom .12. This capacity of the bearing means to resist rotational loads on the section is important in that because of this feature, the boom 12 operates to help the skier 'S maintain his upright position and not fall to either side.

The manner in which the telescoping sections are connected to the pier il l will now be described. A base 40 is permanently bolted ion the pier 1'1 with a collar 41 welded on the upper side of the base 46. Removably resting in said collar is a clevis 42 comprising a pair of flanges -46 and 44 upstanding from Web 45. A depending male stub axle 46 secured to the lower side of the Web 4 is rotatably held within the collar 41 in order that the clevis 42 may be rotated to any position about a vertical axis.

At the rear end of rear section 24 is formed a housing 43 having a pair of sleeve axles 49 extending through res ective holes 59 in upstanding flanges 43 and 44. (See FIGURE 3.) With this arrangement the telescoping boom may be swung up and down about a horizontal axis at its rear end, as well as, around a vertical axis at its rear end. Therefore, the boat may pull the skier S away from the pier ill in any direction and the apparatus will accommodate any up and down movement of the float relative to the pier 11.

-As mentioned previously, the float it} must be retracted each time in order to ready the apparatus for the next skier. In the preferred embodiment the retracting means takes the form of a crank 51 having its axle 52 rotatably journaled within the sleeve axles 49 and having a winding drum 53 secured thereon. Wound around the winding drum 53 is a cable 54 which extends through the center of the telescoping sections 24 to '28 and has one end connected to the telescoping section 28 (see FIGURE 2) and the other end connected to the winding drum 53.

A drag brake 55 is secured to the housing 43 and slideably engages the cable 54- on the winding drum 53. This drag brake '55 functions to prevent back lash of the cable 54 after the telescoping sections have been fully extended. The drag brake 55 may take other forms, but I prefer to use a piece of e.g. metal bent in sort of an S (as seen in FIGURE 2) and fasten it to the inside of the housing 48 by suitable means. (This metal is thin enough that it has a spring resiliency which is used to urge the brake 55 against the cable 54 on the winding drum 53, and thereby perform its ofiice. and the cable 54 will stop the drum 53 when there is no force, or tension, pulling the cable off the drum.

In operation the skier-supporting float 10 is drawn to a position where the boom '12 is completely tellescoped. At this point the float it) is located immediately adjacent the pier :11. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the pier 11 is preferably shaped so that the float 19 may be positioned with the pier immediately adjacent one side thereof. Then the skier S takes his position sitting on the seat 17 with his feet resting on the foot bar 22. At that time he puts on the skis 7. 'Then, grasping the tow bar 8 in his hands and gripping theseat :17 between his legs he is ready to be towed away by the ski boat.

By gripping the seat -17 the skier pulls the float It) with him. Then after the first 20 to 40 feet the skier S attains the speed which he desires at which time he spreads his legs releasing the float 10 and he away. Since the foot bar 22 is located slightly below the surface of the water, the skis 7 will rise away from the foot bar 22 as the skier S is accelerated by the ski boat.

After the skier S has been towed away the float 10 is drawn back to the pier .11 by winding the crank 51 and winding the cable 54 back on the winding dnum 53. At this time the apparatus is ready to assist another skier.

It can be seen that apparatus incorporating the present invention may be cheaply constructed and the preferred tion shown and disclosed in detail, it will be apparent Q to those skilled in the art that such is by way of illustration only, and'numerous changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is to be limited solely by the appended claims.

1 claim:

l. A device particularly adapted for water skiing, comprising:

a small skier-supporting float;

a seat on said float;

stabilizing means having one end connected to said float,

said stabilizing means being extensible up to a predetermined linrit;

means anchoring the other end of said stabilizing means to a relatively immovable object, whereby a water skier may sit on said seat with his skis in the water and ride said float until a boat pulls said skier and float away from said object to the extensible limit of said stabilizing means.

2. Skiing apparatus comprising:

a base adapted to be anchored to a large relatively immovable object;

a small float suitable for supporting the weight of a person; 7

a seat on said float;

stabilizing means having one end connected to said base and another end connected to said float, said stabilizing means being extensible along a line between said base and said float;

means for selectively drawing said float close to said base, whereby a person may sit on said float and be pulled thereon a distance until said stabilizing means is fully extended at which time the float will stopfand then the float may be drawn close to the base again.

3. The skiing apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said seat is elongated and is slightly enlarged at its for- The friction between the brake 5'5 ward end whereby a person may grasp the seat between his legs easily.

4. Apparatus particularly adapted for use in skiing comprising:

a base adapted to be anchored to a large relatively immovable object;

a small float suitable for supporting at least the major portion of the Weight of a person, said float being streamlined at its forward end;

stabilizing means having a forward end connected to said float and a rear end connected to said base, said stabilizing means including a plurality of telescoping tubular sections held in slidable relation for movement between a fully telescoped condition and a fully extended condition, the front end of one of said sections being fixedly connected to said float;

means securing the rear end of another of said sections to said base;

and means for retracting said telescope sections to the fully telescoped condition.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said sections telescopes into the section next to the rear, and there is provided at the forward end of each section receiving another section inside of it bearing means for engaging the exterior of the received section and resisting lateral loads; and there is carried by the rear end of each of the sections received within another section, bearing means for engaging the interior of the receiving section and resisting lateral loads.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein said retracting means includes:

a Winding drum mounted at said rear end of said another of said sections;

a cable having one end secured to said one of said sect-ions and its other end connected to said winding drum;

and means for turning said drum.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said another of said sections is hollow and said cable extends through said another section to the point Where it is con nected to said one section.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein there is provided on said winding drum drag brake means for allowing the cable to be pulled off the dnum by tension on said one end of the cable and stopping the dnum when the tension is removed.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 wherein a housing is formed at the rear end of said another section, said winding drum is located within said housing, and said drag brake is secured to said houisng.

10. Apparatus particularly adapted for use in water skiing comprising:

a base adapted to be anchored to a large relatively immovable object;

a small float suitable for supporting at least the major portion of the weight of a person, said float being streamlined at its forward end;

a seat on said float, said seat being disposed above the bottom of the float a distance, so that a person seated on the seat may have his feet in the water with his legs flexed;

stabilizing means having a forward end connected to said float and a rear end connected to said base, said stabilizing means including a plurality of telescoping tubular sections held in slidable relation for movement between a fully telescoped condition and a fully extended condition, the front end of the forwardmost one of said sections being fixedly connected to said float;

means at the rear end of said stabilizing means for securing the rear end of another of said sections to said base, said means connecting the rear end of said another section, including a clevis mounted on said base for rotation about a vertical axis, said clevis having a pair of flanges upstanding from a web, and the rear end of said another section being secured to said clevis for swinging movement about a horizontal axis; and means for retracting telescoping sections.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 10 wherein the rear end of said another section is journaled in said flanges by means of a pair of axially spaced hollow axles, and said retracting means includes:

a winding drum located bet-Ween said flanges and hollow anles and mounted on a horizontal axle journaled in said pair of hollow axles.

a cable having one end secured to said one of said sections and its other end connected to said winding drum;

and means for turning said drum.

l2. Skiing apparatus comprising:

a relatively small float adapted to at least partially support a water skier;

means on said float adapted to enable a skier to sit on the float and grasp the float while having his feet in the water;

return means connecting said float to a large relatively immovable object for moving said float to said object, said return means being extensible for a predetermined distance so as to allow a skier seated on the float to ride the said distance away from the object and to then allow the float to be returned to the object by said return means.

No references cited. 

1. A DEVICE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR WATER SKIING, COMPRISING: A SMALL SKIER-SUPPORTING FLOAT; A SEAT ON SAID FLOAT; STABILIZING MEANS HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO SAID FLOAT, SAID STABILIZING MEANS BEING EXTENSIBLE UP TO A PREDETERMINED LIMIT; MEANS ANCHORING THE OTHER END OF SAID STABILIZING MEANS TO A RELATIVELY IMMOVABLE OBJECT, WHEREBY A WATER SKIER MAY SIT ON SAID SEAT WITH HIS SKIS IN THE WATER AND RIDE SAID FLOAT UNTIL A BOAT PULLS SAID SKIER AND FLOAT AWAY FROM SAID OBJECT TO THE EXTENSIBLE LIMIT OF SAID STABILIZING MEANS. 